She's a doll

Baby Kaitlyn

Don't you love how because of digital photography, you take 10 times as many pictures of the same thing....I just don't have the heart to delete any of them....would you?

Last Beach visit

Our last visit to the beach for the summer was somewhat spur of the moment. It was a Saturday and we left after running some errands, hitting the McD's drive-thru and then having to get coolant so my car wouldn't overheat. It was a HOT HOT day. So we drove down and met some friends at Del Mar...and learned that parking at Del Mar beach on a Saturday is a big FAT joke. Dan finally dropped us off and spent forever looking for a spot. But once we were settled, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The Parks were there and so we took turns going out in the waves. The boys got in some good boogie boarding but the waves were a bit too daunting for us girls so we just went swimming.
I lost Cole TWICE!! The first time Dan was boogie boarding and I had just finished nursing the baby and I had been watching him until he was digging in the sand behind this huge 6 person raft sitting on the shore. When I didn't see him pop out from behind it after a while, I got up and he was gone!! I laid the baby down, a nice lady said she'd keep an eye on her, and I started telling everyone I walked by that I was missing my blond two year old boy named Cole. I started yelling his name when I saw him running toward me, searching for me. He apparently got up to come up to our stuff and when he didn't see us, he went searching. So I gave him some landmarks to spot us easier. I pointed to our two umbrellas and what they looked like. We played by the water a bit and this nice lady was chatting with us commenting on how I had my hands full. Next incident, was right as we were packing up to leave. Dan and Matt were out in the water again, and we had both put our umbrellas away...I wasn't even thinking about how that would make us hard to find (I mean he was literally digging in the sand right in front of us, but after loading up most of my stuff, I look up and Cole is gone. By this time, Dan was coming out of the water....I sent him one way, and I went the opposite way. People could see the look on my face and a lady asked if I was looking for a little boy, I told her yes, and she said he was wandering saying, "mommy?" I looked ahead and the lady I was chatting with early was quite a ways ahead of me holding his hand bringing him to me. I was soooo relieved. That was a bit much for me. Both times, I hadn't QUITE hit panic mode. BUT the beach is so frightening to lose a kid at because they could be swiped away in the waves. Cole really doesn't venture into the water too much without one of us, but he could have also been taken! I felt bad that I had removed the landmarks!!! Anyway, we left there and packed up the car....getting to the car, feeding the baby and loading up took FOREVER. Then we headed to Oscars for dinner with the Parks. We love hanging out with them because they always are go with the flow people and they throw everything out the window to be with us.....naptime, bedtime, whatever time, they just take the time to hang out and we love it!
We really went to the beach a lot this summer...for having a brand new baby. I'm thinking that I'm about ready to pack up the Wonder Wheeler until next Summer :)

Blowin bubbles

I love Sundays because of the slow pace of it all. I love not feeling the laundry or other chores pulling at me (although with a little baby sometimes the laundry can't wait) but Sundays for us is a time to just hang out. I love this video because you can hear the ice cream truck in the background and it reminds me of when I was a kid. Plus, this bubble blower thing my mom got for the kids is the coooolest invention ever. You squeeze the wand up, and it comes up all soaped up and ready to go. Then the drips drip right back into the container. Who woulda thunk it?

Here's Kaitlyn sporting a dress given to her by her aunt Tricia. I LOVE this dress. It will be one of those keepsake dresses for sure. We've discovered a favorite song/story of hers....it's Going on a Bear Hunt. She thinks it's so funny.
Love that dimple!!

Saturday is a special day...

We love being together on Saturdays...it's relaxing, it's usually Sushi night for Dan and I, and we tend to find something fun to do together as a family. As the summer starts winding down, we squeeze in those last trips to the pool. These pictures were too cute not to get posted!
Kaitlyn just chillin' in her carseat before wanting me to hold her the rest of the time (hence no pictures of me in the action-- story of a mother's life right?(Anyone want to tell me why this picture is sideways?)This kid is so stinkin cute!We tried to have Drew climb on top but it never happened.
I guess you're a rockstar!

American Girls

The girls' newest aunt took them to the American Girl Store for a "flowergirl thank you." We barely made it in time for the luncheon, after sitting in traffic on the way to LA (not surprising)The girls got to borrow a doll to eat with. The meal was so cute and it was great company--no boys allowed! :) Then Kendra told the girls she would buy each of them a doll! Alli didn't have one and when Kendra told her she was going to get her one, she just started jumping up and down with excitement! Kendra told the other girls that since they already had dolls, they could either get a new one, or get a full new outfit for the dolls they have.
So Allison and I walked through the store and checked out each doll and it didn't take her long to decide on a doll that looks a lot like her, named Elizabeth. She really looks like sleeping beauty...especially the pink dress. Audrey had a really hard time deciding. There was so much to chose from and although she had previously wanted the new Kit Kitridge doll, the Elizabeth doll was calling her name. Then, Madison decided to get a cute pink dress for her doll and a matching one for her! It was funny to see Alli wanting the dress Maddy got for her doll, and Audrey wanting the same doll Alli chose....it just goes to show they all have very similar taste. It will be an experience I think the girls will always remember.
It was something I remember wanting as a little girl(I always loved my friends' Samantha doll growing up.) She kept the doll in the box for days, wanting to hold on the perfection of her new American Girl Doll. It was such a sweet thing for Kendra to do for the girls....and these girls got spoiled!!

Squeezing in the fun!

As the summer came to a close, we decided to squeeze in a few last fun activities for the kids. So we headed to the bowling alley! Allison even got 2 strikes!!